2007.11.23: November 23, 2007: Headlines: Speaking Out: Public Diplomacy: Diplomacy: Sarasota Herald Tribune: Joan McKniff writes: As a career diplomat, I did my best to help overseas audiences understand the full picture of the United States, our long-term commitment to human rights, democracy, our proud history of volunteerism and the like. But this was never more difficult than in the Bush years.

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2007.11.23: November 23, 2007: Headlines: Speaking Out: Public Diplomacy: Diplomacy: Sarasota Herald Tribune: Joan McKniff writes: As a career diplomat, I did my best to help overseas audiences understand the full picture of the United States, our long-term commitment to human rights, democracy, our proud history of volunteerism and the like. But this was never more difficult than in the Bush years.

Joan McKniff writes: As a career diplomat, I did my best to help overseas audiences understand the full picture of the United States, our long-term commitment to human rights, democracy, our proud history of volunteerism and the like. But this was never more difficult than in the Bush years.

Trust me, there is/was no pro-U.S. shift in those five continents during the Bush administration. In fact, there has been a record-setting growth of anti-Americanism: hatred, resentment, and, among our closest allies, total bafflement often mixed with disgust and fear about the arrogant, imperialist, uninformed nonleadership of Bush, Cheney and crew.

Regarding Joe Roche's guest column "Bush has presided over a pro-U.S. shift in the global community":

I've just retired from a 40- year overseas career, from Peace Corps, Red Cross, nongovernmental organizations, to the last 22 years with the U.S. Information Agency/State Department, serving in five continents.

Trust me, there is/was no pro-U.S. shift in those five continents during the Bush administration. In fact, there has been a record-setting growth of anti-Americanism: hatred, resentment, and, among our closest allies, total bafflement often mixed with disgust and fear about the arrogant, imperialist, uninformed nonleadership of Bush, Cheney and crew.

As a career diplomat, I did my best to help overseas audiences understand the full picture of the United States, our long-term commitment to human rights, democracy, our proud history of volunteerism and the like. But this was never more difficult than in the Bush years. Now that I am retired, I feel an obligation to speak out against dangerous op-ed pieces that have no basis in truth.

I read the piece several times, hoping that perhaps Joe Roche was channeling Stephen Colbert for our enjoyment during the writers' strike. But I fear he is not. Roche's message is not funny; it is scary, wrong and dangerous.

Director Ron Tschetter: The PCOL InterviewPeace Corps Director Ron Tschetter sat down for an in-depth interview to discuss the evacuation from Bolivia, political appointees at Peace Corps headquarters, the five year rule, the Peace Corps Foundation, the internet and the Peace Corps, how the transition is going, and what the prospects are for doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011. Read the interview and you are sure to learn something new about the Peace Corps. PCOL previously did an interview with Director Gaddi Vasquez.

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Story Source: Sarasota Herald Tribune

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Speaking Out; Public Diplomacy; Diplomacy

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